Ruling party takes lead in Mozambique local elections

Thursday October 11 2018

An elderly voter receives instructions before casting her ballot for Mozambique's local elections at a polling station in Maputo on October 10, 2018. The ruling Frelimo party was leading as the Renamo opposition seemed to gain ground. PHOTO | AFP

In Summary

Frelimo has ruled Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975

Mozambique's ruling Frelimo party took a clear lead in early results from local polls, official data shown Thursday, as the Renamo opposition looked to gain ground ahead of next year's General Election.

With 18 declared results in the 53 municipalities, Frelimo had secured 17 wins against just one for Renamo after Wednesday's vote. Counting continued in many areas where the race was close.

Frelimo has ruled Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975.

The whole country

"These results are provisional and do not cover the whole country. We call on competitors and citizens to wait calmly for the final results," said Paulo Cuinica, spokesman for the National Election Commission.

The election had threatened to inflame tensions in Mozambique, where Renamo fought a brutal 16-year civil war against the Frelimo government before fighting stopped in 1992.